Interesting facts

Sandwiched between the Eastern Alps and the Carpathians is Marchfeld, which has a thin topsoil layered on top of gravel and has long been the breadbasket of Austria. When travelling from thecentre of Vienna into the surrounding areas, one notices that numerous vegetable patches start to appear. Marchfeld has little precipitation and dry soil, which provides ideal conditions for intensive agriculture. For many years organic agriculture has been thriving in the plots of the township of Weiden, along the protected nature zones of Sandberge and Siebenbrunner Heide. The organic farms produce chilli peppers, red beets, celery, and bell peppers in a variety of colours. These items are sold raw or are pickled in jars and distributed to customers in the shops of the producers. The pickles are legendary. Their availability at the organic farms is credited to visitors from the Czech Republic who brought pickled products with them when they arrived after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The local organic farm was one of the first to devote itself to organic garlic. Organic apples come from the fruit plantations in Oberweiden. They are juicy and crisp when consumed as a raw product, and they are also served in the form of a drink. A thirst-quencher for cyclists is also available in the form of organic beer from the Marchfeld brewery. All of these local organic products also find their way to consumers by way of the cooking pot: the owners of the restaurants are in fact organic farmers!